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Pw. WRIGHT; RARLVALVR 0R REGULATOR.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATESv 'PATENT Y' OFFICE.

WILLIAM WRIGHT, OF PLYMOUTH, COUNTY OF DEVON, GREAT BRITAIN.

BALL-VALVE on REGU'LATo R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 247,867, dated October4, 1881. Application filed April l1, 1881. (No model.) Patented inEngland March 2, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WRIGHT, ot' Plymouth, in the countyof Devonand Kingdom of Great Britain, have invented a new and useful Ball -Valveor Regulator, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No.899, bearing date March 2, 1881,) of which the following is aspecilication.

Myimprovementrelates to that class of valve or regulatorknown asball-valve, the'object of which is to shut off'the supply ot' Water orother fluid when the cistern or vessel to which it is applied hasreceived a sufticient quantity. This is accomplished by the flotationpower of the hermetically-closed hollow ball.

My invention will best be explained by refence to the accompanying sheetof drawings, in which like letters represent like parts.

Figure l is a sectional elevation ofthe valve and ball; and Fig. 2 showsa modified applica tion of the ball, the valve remaining unaltered.

A is the hollow ball, of copper or other suitable material, through thecenter ot' which is inserted a tube, B, soldered or otherwise con nectedairtight to the ballA. Oneendot tube B is partly closed by a bridge orequivalent, B', by which the ball is connected to the valve,

vbut is free to move up and down outside it.

The valve consists of an outer tube, C, having on the top the valve-seatG', through which `the tluid enters bya suitable straightor curvedbranch, C2. The tube C may be screwed or otherwise attached to thebranch and seating, as shown, or may form part of it, but the tormerplan is better. Within tube C is a smaller and generally longer tube, D,carrying on its upper end the valve D', of india rubber, leather, or thelike, or it may be made of metal and ground to t the seat O'. The softvalve,

however, is less likely to leak if dirt or leaves get between the valveand'seat, as not unfrequently happens.` The upper end of tubeD consistsof a head, D2, having suitable apertures, D3, for the entrance ot' theuid to the small tube, and a collar or Washer, D4, fitting looselyinside tube O, so as to work freely within it. A loose Washer, D5, isplaced upon tube D, and between it and collar D4-is a piece o'findia-rubber tube, E, a helical spring or other similar springy materialwhich would be used noticed that it is immaterial to the Working whetherthe ball projects upward so as to surround the valve orprojects downwardfrom the end of tube D, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1.

The arrangement of valve in Fig. 2 is precisely similar to Fig. 1,except that the ball is placed at the end ot an ordinary lever, G,pivoted to a suitable bracket 0r attachment, O4, upon tube (l, andsplitor divided, so as to embrace loosely tube D to whichit is soconnected that it will carry the tube up or down with it as it moves.The simplest way of doing this is by screwing the bottom'of tube D intothe lever G. When this arrangement is used the tubeB may be dispensedwith and theball then becomes an ordinary ball.

The action of this valve is as follows: The tluid enters through thebranch O2, forcing back valve 1)', passes the seating and valve, and.enters tubeD through the holes D3, as shown by the arrows. As the ball Arises it lifts tube vD and valve D' till the opening is entirely closedand no more tlu'id can pass; but as the level ct' the duid in thecistern or vessel sinks the balldrops with itand opens the valve again.The object ofthe spring or springy material E is to press up the valveD' against the seat and counteract the pressure of the fluid, so thatthe ball shall have nothing to contend against except-the slightfriction and weight of the valve or accessories.

The power of the spring E can be adj usted to a nicety by the plug F, sothat a valve which has been working against a pressure of, say, onehundred pounds per square inch, can be immediately regulated to suit apressure of, say, vfour pounds, by merely turning the plug. However, theplug F couldbe dispensed with and a plaincup substituted, but then thepressure of the spring E would be constant and could not be altered tnsuit circumstances; therefore I much prefer to use the regulatingplug.For shallow or small cisterns the plan with the ball turned up is best,as it takes up less room; but in some eases Where there is plenty ofheight the ball may with advantage be turned downward, in which case thetube B may be, if desired, of smaller diameter than before; butifitbemade so the ball is, of course, not reversible. The leverarrangement shown in Fig. 2 is ehieily for the use ot' those who areaccustomed to the usual form and prefer a long arm.

Having now described my invention, and the method of performing` thesame, I wish it t0 4be understood that I am aware that closingn a valveby the flotation of an air-tight hall is no new idea, aud therefore thatI do not broad ly claim the principle ot' closing valves in that manner;but that What I do claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. In abad-valve, the combination, with the 4ball A, having an axialtube, B, of the valve spindle or tube D, to which said ball is directlyattached, and the valve D and appliances, substantially as shown anddescribed, for regulating said valve to work under various pressures,substantially as described, for the purpose speeied.

2. In a ballvalve, the inner tube, D, attached at one end to the hall,and carrying at its other end the perforated head or its equivalent D2,and valve 1),in combination with the outer tube, C, valveseat C', andsupply-branch G2, substantially as and fertile purposes set forth andshown.

3. The ball A, having an axial tube, B, the vaive spindle or tube D, towhich said ball is directly attached, and the valve and valve-regnlatingappliances contained Within said axial opening,r or tube B, of the ball,substantially as described, for the purpose speeiiied.

4. In a ball-valve, the Combination, with the valve-spindle and valve,of a reversible ball, 45

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

WILLIAM WRIGHT. Witnesses:

STEPHEN HUNT, ALFRED J. BOUL'r.

